but gentle and womanish； as they ought to be。 It's on
her account that I speak； and not on my own。〃
〃Ay； ay； I begin to understand。 The girl is a good girl；
my worthy friend； but she is a soldier's daughter and a
sailor's niece； and ought not to be too tame or too tender
in a gale。 Does she show any fear？〃
〃Not she！ not she！ Mabel is a woman； but she is rea…
sonable and silent。 Not a word have I heard from her
concerning our doings； though I do think； Master Cap；
she would like it better if Jasper Eau…douce were put into
his proper place； and things were restored to their old sit…
uation； like。 This is human natur'。〃
〃I'll warrant it girl…like； and Dunham…like； too。 Any…
thing is better than an old uncle； and everybody knows
more than an old seaman。 _This_ is human natur'； Master
Pathfinder； and d… me if I'm the man to sheer a fathom；
starboard or port； for all the human natur' that can be
found in a minx of twenty ay； or〃 （lowering his voice a
little） 〃for all that can be paraded in his Majesty's 55th
regiment of foot。 I've not been at sea forty years； to come
up on this bit of fresh water to be taught human natur'。
How this gale holds out！ It blows as hard at this moment
as if Boreas had just clapped his hand upon the bellows。
And what is all this to leeward？〃 （rubbing his eyes）
〃land！ as sure as my name is Cap and high land； too。〃
The Pathfinder made no immediate answer； but； shak…
ing his head； he watched the expression of his companion's
face； with a look of strong anxiety in his own。
〃Land； as certain as this is the _Scud！_〃 repeated Cap；
〃a lee shore； and that； too； within a league of us； with as
pretty a line of breakers as one could find on the beach of
all Long Island！〃
〃And is that encouraging？ or is it disheartening？〃 in…
quired the Pathfinder。
〃Ha！ encouraging disheartening！ why； neither。 No；
no； there is nothing encouraging about it； and as for dis…
heartening； nothing ought to dishearten a seaman。 You
never get disheartened or afraid in the woods； my friend？〃
〃I'll not say that； I'll not say that。 When the danger is
great； it is my gift to see it； and know it； and to try to
avoid it； else would my scalp long since have been drying
in a Mingo wigwam。 On this lake； however； I can see no
trail； and I feel it my duty to submit； though I think we
ought to remember there is such a person as Mabel Dun…
ham on board。 But here comes her father； and he will
naturally feel for his own child。〃
〃We are seriously situated； I believe； brother Cap；〃 said
the Sergeant； when he had reached the spot； 〃by what I
can gather from the two hands on the forecastle？ They
tell me the cutter cannot carry any more sail； and her drift
is so great we shall go ashore in an hour or two。 I hope
their fears have deceived them？〃
Cap made no reply； but he gazed at the land with a rue…
ful face； and then looked to windward with an expression
of ferocity； as if he would gladly have quarrelled with the
weather。
〃It may be well； brother；〃 the Sergeant continued； 〃to
send for Jasper and consult him as to what is to be done。
There are no French here to dread； and； under all circum…
stances； the boy will save us from drowning if possible。〃
〃Ay； ay； 'tis these cursed circumstances that have done
all the mischief。 But let the fellow come； let him come；
a few well…managed questions will bring the truth out of
him； I'll warrant you。〃
This acquiescence on the part of the dogmatical Cap was
no sooner obtained； than Jasper was sent for。 The young
man instantly made his appearance； his whole air； counte…
nance； and mien expressive of mortification； humility； and；
as his observers fancied； rebuked deception。 When he first
stepped on deck； Jasper cast one hurried； anxious glance
around； as if curious to know the situation of the cutter；
and that glance sufficed； it would seem； to let him into the
secret of all her perils。 At first he looked to windward；
as is usual with every seaman； then he turned round the
horizon； until his eye caught a view of the high lands to
leeward； when the whole truth burst upon him at once。
〃I've sent for you； Master Jasper；〃 said Cap； folding his
arms； and balancing his body with the dignity of the fore…
castle； 〃in order to learn something about the haven to
leeward。 We take it for granted you do not bear malice so
hard as to wish to drown us all； especially the women； and
I suppose you will be man enough to help us run the cut…
ter into some safe berth until this bit of a gale has done
blowing！〃
〃I would die myself rather than harm should come to
Mabel Dunham；〃 the young man earnestly answered。
〃I knew it！ I knew it！〃 cried the Pathfinder； clapping
his hand kindly on Jasper's shoulder。 〃The lad is as true
as the best compass that ever ran a boundary； or brought
a man off from a blind trail。 It is a mortal sin to believe
otherwise。〃
〃Humph！〃 ejaculated Cap； 〃especially the women！
As if _they_ were in any particular danger。 Never mind；
young man； we shall understand each other by talking
like two plain seamen。 Do you know of any port under
our lee？〃
〃None。 There is a large bay at this end of the lake； but
it is unknown to us all； and not easy of entrance。〃
〃And this coast to leeward it has nothing particular to
recommend it； I suppose？〃
〃It is a wilderness until you reach the mouth of the Ni…
agara in one direction； and Frontenac in the other。 North
and west； they tell me； there is nothing but forest and
prairies for a thousand miles。〃
〃Thank God！ then； there can be no French。 Are there
many savages； hereaway； on the land？〃
〃The Indians are to be found in all directions； though
they are nowhere very numerous。 By accident； we might
find a party at any point on the shore； or we might pass
months there without seeing one。〃
〃We must take our chauce； then； as to the blackguards；
but； to be frank with you； Master Western； if this little
unpleasant matter about the French had not come to pass；
what would you now do with the cutter？〃
〃I am a much younger sailor than yourself； Master Cap；〃
said Jasper modestly； 〃and am hardly fitted to advise you。〃
〃Ay； ay； we all know that。 In a common case； perhaps
not。 But this is an uncommon case； and a circumstance；
and on this bit of fresh water it has what may be called its
peculiarities； and so； everything considered； you may be
fitted to advise even your own father。 At all events； you
can speak； and I can judge of your opinions； agreeably to
my own experience。〃
〃I think； sir； before two hours are over； the cutter will
have to anchor。〃
〃Anchor！ not out here in the lake？〃
〃No； sir； but in yonder； near the land。〃
〃You do not mean to say； Master Eau…douce； you would
anchor on a lee shore in a gale of wind？〃
〃If I would save my vessel； that is exactly what I would
do； Master Cap。〃
〃Whe…e…e…w！ this is fresh water； with a vengeance！
Hark'e； young man； I've been a seafaring animal； boy and
man； forty…one years； and I never yet heard of such a
thing。 I'd throw my ground…tackle overboard before I
would be guilty of so lubberly an act！〃
〃That is what we do on this lake；〃 modestly replied
Jasper； 〃when we are hard pressed。 I daresay we might
do better； had we been better taught。〃
〃That you might； indeed！ No； no man induces me to
commit such a sin against my own bringing up。 I should
never dare show my face inside of Sandy Hook again； had
I committed so know…nothing an exploit。 Why； Path…
finder； here； has more seamanship in him than that comes
to。 You can go below again； Master Eau…douce。〃
Jasper quietly bowed and withdrew； still； as he passed
down the ladder； the spectators observed that he cast a
lingering anxious look at the horizon to windward and the
land to leeward； and then disappeared with concern strongly
expressed in every lineament of his face。
CHAPTER XVII。
His still refuted quirks he still repeats；
New…raised objections with new quibbles meets；
Till sinking in the quicksand he defends；
He dies disputing； and the contest ends。
COWPER。
As the soldier's wife was sick in her berth； Mabel Dun…
ham was the only person in the outer cabin when Jasper
returned to it； for； by an act of grace in the Sergeant； he
had been permitted to resume his proper place in this part
of the vessel。 We should be ascribing too much simplicity
of character to our heroine； if we said that she had felt
no distrust of the young man in consequence of his arrest；
but we should also be doing injustice to her warmth of
feeling and generosity of disposition； if we did not add；
that this distrust was insignificant and transient。 As he
now took his seat near her； his whole countenance clouded
with the uneasiness he felt concerning the situation of the
cutter； everything like suspicion was banished from her
mind； and she saw in him only an injured man。
〃You let this affair weigh too heavily on your mind；
Jasper；〃 said she eagerly； or with that forgetfuluess of self
with which the youthful of her sex are wont to betray
their feelings when a strong and generous interest has
attained the ascendency； 〃no one who knows you can； or
does； believe you guilty